Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform has launched the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) for 2024.
The total funding of €9 million across the two schemes is expected to support repair and maintenance of over 550 historic structures in every local authority area across the country in 2024.
These will range from small-scale, labour-intensive projects in individual homes, up to larger-scale projects in major public buildings.
This funding will help owners and custodians of our built heritage to undertake the repair and rejuvenation of these historic buildings, presenting them to their best effect today and safeguarding them into the future.
Announcing the 2024 schemes, Minister Noonan said:
“I strongly believe in the importance of supporting communities to protect and conserve our shared built heritage, and recognise that this relies on the dedication of many different parties, including owners and custodians, skilled craftspeople, and local authority experts.
“As Minister, I have had the pleasure of visiting numerous properties around the country that have received assistance under these two grant schemes and seen first-hand the positive impacts that this work has on the character of a place, the communities that live there and local employment.
“I would encourage anyone considering applying to get in touch with the Architectural Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer within their local authority as soon as possible.”
Overview and key points on each of the grant schemes:
Built Heritage Investment Scheme
- Provides grants of up to €15,000 to individual owners for small-scale works to repair and preserve their historic properties.
- Ring-fenced funding of €500,000 for thatched buildings to fund conservation repairs to help owners to offset other costs and protecting these cherished buildings into the future.
Historic Structures Fund
- Up to €200,000 for projects “that deliver a major community benefit.”
- Funding for vernacular structures not listed in the local authority Record of Protected Structures and historic shopfronts for refurbishment and conservation to safeguard these distinctive features of our towns, villages, and cities.
In Laois, the Conservation Grants are managed through Laois County Council Heritage Officer, Thomas Carolan, who said said of the announcement:
“These grants provide an opportunity for private owners and community groups to help protect the built heritage of Laois into the future.
“In recent years, historic structures all over the county have benefitted from these grants, from thatched cottages, to old school houses, and large country houses.
“It’s great to be in a position to continue supporting the protection and conservation of these important buildings.”
Commenting at the launch, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, said:
“Our built heritage is a tangible expression of our history and culture, and a distinctive and attractive element of our towns, villages, cities, and countryside.
“I know from my visits around the country that it can be a great source of pride for local communities.
“The schemes launched today are a vital support to communities, owners, and custodians who maintain our historic structures so they remain a public good for generations to come.”
SEE ALSO – Down Memory Lane: Laois woman recalls where she was when JFK was killed in poignant RTE piece
 and the Historic Structures Fund 2024.){kind=link}